Name a classic experiment demonstrating operant conditioning.

Name a classic experiment demonstrating operant conditioning.

• A. Pavlov's dogs
• B. Little Albert
• C. Bandura's Bobo doll
• D. Skinner's box with rats or pigeons

Answer: (D)

Operant conditioning is learning through consequences that follow a voluntary behavior. Skinner’s box demonstrates this clearly: an animal can perform a voluntary action, like pressing a lever, to receive a consequence such as food. If the action is reinforced, it becomes more likely to occur again; if it’s not reinforced or is punished, the behavior declines. The setup also lets researchers examine different reinforcement schedules and how they shape the rate and pattern of responding, illustrating how voluntary behavior is learned and maintained by consequences. The other classic studies involve different processes—Pavlov’s dogs show automatic, reflexive responses become associated with a stimulus (classical conditioning), Little Albert shows conditioned emotional responses, and Bandura demonstrates learning from others (observational learning). The defining feature here is learning driven by consequences to voluntary actions.

Operant conditioning is learning through consequences that follow a voluntary behavior. Skinner’s box demonstrates this clearly: an animal can perform a voluntary action, like pressing a lever, to receive a consequence such as food. If the action is reinforced, it becomes more likely to occur again; if it’s not reinforced or is punished, the behavior declines. The setup also lets researchers examine different reinforcement schedules and how they shape the rate and pattern of responding, illustrating how voluntary behavior is learned and maintained by consequences. The other classic studies involve different processes—Pavlov’s dogs show automatic, reflexive responses become associated with a stimulus (classical conditioning), Little Albert shows conditioned emotional responses, and Bandura demonstrates learning from others (observational learning). The defining feature here is learning driven by consequences to voluntary actions.